1
as in consecration
the act of making something holy through religious ritual
the sacred site required another sanctification after it had been defiled by the invaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in purification
the act or fact of freeing from sin or moral guilt
the Christian belief that the suffering and death of Jesus was responsible for the sanctification of all humankind
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sanctification
After Fuqua does interesting work sowing seeds of folly amid the star’s glorious rise, the movie gives up and turns to total sanctification.
—
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
The sanctification of Lee and other Confederate leaders, in turn, pushed the complexities of the surrender and of the Civil War era into the shadows, allowing the myth of Appomattox to flourish for more than a century.
— Made By History, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
The result is that liberal analysts prefer the sanctification of allies and the demonization of rivals to objective and informed analysis.
—Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
But Ii her death allows for her sanctification, the film doesn’t quite know how to represent her life.
—Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
This sanctification was a crucial step in including medicine as its own advanced degree program at the first universities that were established around 1200 in Europe.
—Meg Leja, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023
Doing so is not a violation but a sanctification of Shabbat.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 7 Sep. 2021
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
The sanctification of Lee and other Confederate leaders, in turn, pushed the complexities of the surrender and of the Civil War era into the shadows, allowing the myth of Appomattox to flourish for more than a century.
— Made By History, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
The result is that liberal analysts prefer the sanctification of allies and the demonization of rivals to objective and informed analysis.
—Anatol Lieven, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
But Ii her death allows for her sanctification, the film doesn’t quite know how to represent her life.
—Alessa Dominguez, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2024
This sanctification was a crucial step in including medicine as its own advanced degree program at the first universities that were established around 1200 in Europe.
—Meg Leja, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023
Doing so is not a violation but a sanctification of Shabbat.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 7 Sep. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sanctification
Noun
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Drive’s sensational premiere at Cannes in 2011 was a consecration of his cinema, but perhaps also the tipping point.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2026
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At this stage of his career, Hicks will have been part of many ceremonies; ordination as a deacon and then a priest, consecration as an auxiliary bishop and installation as bishop in Joliet, Illinois.—
Tony Aiello,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Still and sparkling water comes from an in-house purification plant.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
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By contrast, the silicon purification is a walk in the park.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 May 2026
Noun
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On Wednesday, after days of hunger, salvation finally came as rescuers emerged from the darkness, illuminating the narrow rocky cavern with their headlamps.—
Kocha Olarn,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
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Its timely theme is that the only path to salvation is for everyone to work with everyone else, and while that may sound like a ‘Kumbaya’ message, the movie is structured, in the end, as an intricate roller-coaster of togetherness.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
28 May 2026
Noun
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The new building will include a global center for skin care and cleansing, a polycultural skin and hair care center of excellence, a human performance lab, a Unilever fragrance house and a packaging innovation studio.—
Jennifer Weil,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
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Over the years, the Korean beauty giant has built an impressive portfolio of brands that have shaped routines long before double-cleansing and glass skin entered the mainstream.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sanctification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sanctification. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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